The BOOK – Royal Prophet

Prophet Isaiah was brought up in the court and had high standing with the people of Jerusalem. He not only was a prophet, but he also married a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3,118). Isaiah was the prophet during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). He received his real commission in the year King Uzziah died. He preached God was about to abandon Judah, showing that God wants his people to be holy more than prosperity. 

God called Isaiah just as he called Moses, Joshua, Gideon or Paul. Isaiah’s commission came at the tragic death of the grand old King Uzziah (Isaiah 6 :!). For years he preached and told of doom and deliverance. Hardship and tough times awaited him, but God gave him a victorious strength. He was the man of the hour.

The secret of all Isaiah’s power lay in a vision in the Temple. This vision should be every disciple’s experience.

·         Conviction – a sense of sinfulness before God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:5)

·         Confession – a broken heart and a contrite heard is precious to the Lord (Isaiah 6:5)

·         Cleansing – guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:7)

·         Consecration – here I am, send me attitude (Isaiah 6:8)

·         Commission – Gods command to Go (Isaiah 6:9)

From Isaiah 7 to 24 we see the days of King Ahaz. He was utterly bad and an idolater. For this reason, God gave the kingdom to other kings. Isaiah was silent, but this invasion brings him to the front in his ministry (Isaiah 7:3). God sent him to encourage Ahaz. Besides predicting the Assyrian invasion in Isaiah 8, the prophet saw an end to all of Israel’s troubles through the birth of Jesus Christ who shall rule over the kingdom of David in righteousness forever and forever. He gave Ahaz a sign that Judah was not to perish – the prophecy of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 7:14). But Ahaz pursued his own idea with Assyria, and that nation on which they now leaned was to become the means of their punishment (Isaiah 7:17-20). 

In Isaiah 13, we see prophecy about Babylon’s destruction. God often allows nations to punish Israel for her national sins, but retribution is inevitable. In Isaiah 14, we see the death of king Ahaz. But Isaiah warns the people that his death must not be hailed as the end of their burdens. Even worse oppressors than Ahaz were yet to come (Isaiah 14:28-32). 

From Isiah 15 to 39, it talks about the period under Hezekiah, which was an important period in all of Israel’s history. He was a godly king. The critical year in Hezekiah’s reign was the 14^th year (Isaiah 36:1). It was then we have the Assyrian invasion, the king’s mortal sickness and his recovery, and the withdrawal of Assyrians from the land. 

Chapters 40 to 66 are called the Book of Consolation because Isaiah tells in glowing terms not only of the restoration of Judah, but also of the coming of Jehovah’s servant to be the Messiah king. Isaiah 53 gives us a perfect picture of our suffering redeemer. Isaiah 60 to 66 tells of the coming kingdom – the future glory of Israel. God’s goodness to redeemed Israel is seen in chapter 61 and 62. He promises an era of prosperity in chapters 63 to 65.

Isaiah spent his life trying to get Judah to become acquainted with God and his word. He wanted them to trust wholly in God’s guidance. This book not only speaks of Israel, but of Jesus Christ who came to take away the sins of whole world. It shows us how Christ suffered for the sins which we have done. 

When you pray fully read this book, you will understand the real grace which God showed upon the humanity to get saved. I pray that everyone understand this grace of Christ that he died for our sins to make us free, and accordingly live a life pleasing and testifying Jesus Christ.

The BOOK - Mini Bible

Isaiah was a man of vision and who certainly spoke boldly to his own time, but as a prophet he spoke of the future as well; hence he is the prophet for all times. He not only was a prophet, but he also married a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3, 18)

“The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw” - Isaiah 1:1

Isaiah was the prophet of the southern kingdom of Judah. He lied at the tome the Northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by Assyria. Isaiah was the one whose voice saved the kingdom of Judah during these trying hours. He told the judgement that must fall on Judah because she would not fulfil her mission in the world. But through the whole book we find the ultimate triumph of God’s plan through his appointed servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would bring in final victory through suffering and death (Isaiah 53)

The divisions of Isaiah are an interesting coincidence. Isaiah is a miniature Bible in structure.

·         This book has 66 chapters, just as Bible has 66 books.

·         There are 2 great divisions, just as there are in the Bible, with 39 chapters in the first (like Old Testament) and 27 chapters in the second (like New Testament)

·         The Old Testament opens with God’s case against humans because of their sin. Isaiah opens the same way (Isaiah 1:18).

·         The first section closes with the prophecy of the coming King of Righteousness and the redemption of Israel (Isaiah 34-35), just as the prophets close the Old Testament with the prediction of His coming Kingdom

·         The second part of Isaiah (Isaiah 40) opens with the “voice of him that crieth in the wilderness” (Isaiah 40:3), and is concerned with the person and work of Jesus Christ. New Testament opens in exact accord with this. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, is announced as “the vice of one crying in the wilderness” (John 1:6, 23).

·         The book of Isaiah ends with the vision of new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness perfectly dwells (Isaiah 62:1-2; 5:17; 66:22). The New Testament closes with this same view in Revelation 21.

Isaiah chapter 53 is a wonderful one to store in your memory. Each verse is of golden truth. This is the chapter that picture Christ, our suffering redeemer. When I was a child, my father made me to study this chapter by-heart which I still remember. It is good to by-heart this chapter and make your children also study because you will always remember the sufferings of Christ which been fore told in the Old Testament, that proves Christ is our Lord.

The life of Jesus Christ is portrayed in Isaiah:

·         Birth – Isaiah 7:14; 9:6.

·         Family – Isaiah 11:1

·         Anointing – Isaiah 11:2

·         Character – Isaiah 11:3,4

·         Simplicity of life – Isaiah 7:15

·         Gentleness – Isaiah 42:1-4

·         Death – Isaiah 53

·         Resurrection – Isaiah 25:8

·         Glorious reign – Isaiah 11:3-16; 32.

As you begin the study of the book of Isaiah, may God anoint you with his Spirit to get the bread which is needed for you this hour so that you can go ahead in your studies in a deeper faith in God.

The BOOK – Prophets

Prophets were men whom God raised up during the dark days of Israel’s history.

“The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets’ and seers: Turn from the evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through the servants the prophets” - 2 Kings 17:13.

These prophets spoke fearlessly to Kings and people alike of their sins and failures. The captivities of Israel (Northern kingdom) and of Judah (Southern kingdom) are largely the theme of the Old Testament prophets. The record of these is found in 2 Kings 17:1-23; 24:11-25; 21. These are called the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Some of the prophets served before the exile, some during and some afterwards. These are called pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic prophets.

The prophets during exile (captivity in Babylon) were Ezekiel and Daniel. They prophesied to all the Israelites. Jeremiah’s lifetime also extended into this period. Those who prophesied after the exile were Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

The prophet’s chief duty was to deal with the moral and religious life of his own people during his day. He not only spoke of judgement that would come to pass to the people because of their sin, but he was also a foreteller of future events. 

Some of the writings of the prophets which are prophetic:

·         The dispersion and captivity of God’s chosen people; everywhere the prophet tells that the Jews are to be scattered among the nations of the world.

·         The coming of Messiah: Religious Jews were and are still looking for their Messiah.

·         The restoration of the chosen people to their own land under the coming Messiah: Jewish people are returning from the four corners of the earth to dwell in their own Promised Land. Almost all Jewish people have a longing in their hearts to be a part of Israel as a nation.

·         The reign of the Messiah over the whole earth: Even though we see the collapse of God’s people in the Old Testament – first Israel, then Judah being led into captivity – nevertheless, God revealed that the ending of his nation did not end his plans for his people. There is yet to be glorious future when the prince of peace shall reign over his people.

When you read the Gospels, you constantly find phrases such as, “so was fulfilled what the Lord has said” and “to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet.” We find in these passages that God fulfils prophecy literally. The prophets exposed the cold formalism of their religion. They constantly reminded the people that Jehovah was the only true God.

The prophecies concerning Christ in Isaiah 53 is so definite that it gives great assurance to us that the Bible is the word of God. But as the leaders of the church now – the preachers and the Pastors need to take the responsibility of what the Prophets have done in the Old Testament. They need to tell the truth when it is needed, without seeing the face of people, because they are chosen by God not only to lead the people, but also to lead them towards holiness through the word of God.

May God help all the leaders to take responsibility to lead the people in truth and holiness, Amen